It wasn’t often that Isaac had to charge, Kaylon batteries were built to be as efficient as the rest of their mechanics were. But every once in a while, even a Kaylon had to lay down to ‘rest’; Isaac’s messing and mixing up of words felt oddly reminiscent of someone slurring their speech when tired.
Claire was concerned the first time she’d seen him like this, he wasn’t supposed to glitch, well, that’s what he always insisted; despite his mistakes in the wake of their breakup.
She was prepared this time though.
It had been a long week, the start of which Isaac was already running low on battery. But the crew always seemed to forget that just because he was an AI didn’t mean he didn’t get tired in his own, dire way.
Long hours of battle had Isaac filling in for others when their organic bodies simply couldn't take being awake anymore, sometimes being able to download how to do everyone's job had a downside for him.
Hearing a voice beep through her comscanner “Finn-, Dr- Finn.” tipped her off, the slight pause reminding her of hesitance in his monotone voice after he didn’t include a ‘Dr’ as he always did during work hours.
“Please report to the bridge.” He quickly finished before ending the transmission.
She walked in and saw Malloy lying near his chair as Isaac and Ed stood over him
The rest of the Crew looked relieved, the only ships she could see through the glass were Union vessels; most of which were bearing damage just as severe as The Orvillie and seemingly Lt. Malloy.
“What’s going on, have the Moclins retreated?” She questioned as she rushed to Gorden’s side, He was groaning and holding his head.
“He was flung out of his chair, and yes,” Isaac stated, straight to the point as always and Claire wondered if he thought no one saw the flicker in the LEDs he called eyes.
“You’re leaving out the part that we were being blasted to hell and he refused to buckle up.” A Xelayan voice chimed in, Claire glared down at Gorden.
Before Claire could scold him like she would her children a little chirp of mechanical speech distracted her, Isaac began speaking English sooner than Claire could open her mouth to ask what that was.
“Caption, could I be relieved of duty as the threat is gone?” Isaac looked at Ed beside him, He had been staring at Gorden with a look of slight amusem*nt and concern before he looked over to her Husband.
“Well, your shift is way past due to end, could you carry this idiot to sickbay first though?” Ed gave a pat to Gorden's knee and Isaac quickly nodded, picking up Gorden swiftly as if he was as light as a feather.
Claire looked at her Husband with sympathetic eyes, she knew; in his own way, he must be exhausted.
They walked side by side silently, the only sounds were Gorden’s occasional whines and protests that he could walk on his own despite the head trauma.
Claire's fingers made contact with Isaac’s shoulder as they stepped into the room, He twitched slightly, and down went Malloy onto a bed; rather roughly.
“Ughh hey man be gentle!” Gordon rubbed his head again, Isaac stared blankly but there was no doubt everyone in the room caught his few ‘blinks’, Claire and Gorden sharing a concerned glance as she grabbed a Medscanner.
A few scans left Claire to roll her eyes, quickly passing the device to the closest Ensign.
“He’s just overreacting to a cut… run a Dermoscanner on him.” She instructed as Gorden scoffed.
“It’s not my fault I had to fake to get outta there! Ed was going to make me stay on lookout!” He complained as the Ensign scanned his head.
“Claire, your shift is ending in two minutes, do you-” Isaac paused, not seemingly by his own accord “Want me to wait for yo..u.” He tilted his head as his voice slowly faded, internal systems redirecting the power to more important functions.
“Isaac?” Claire questioned, walking to her Husband, who was now leaning against the wall.
“Can you walk?” Claire tuned out the other voices trying to talk to them as she grabbed his arm, fully prepared to lug this hunk of metal to bed.
Standing up straight Isaac went to give a nod before swaying forwards slightly, stopped only by Claire's desperate attempts to hold a man nearly triple her weight up.
“Come on let's get you to bed, just- hn- lean on me as we walk.” She said grunting like a powerlifter as Isaac shifted more weight onto her. Despite that Claire still clung onto him like he was something fragile, ignoring the Ensign asking if she needed help—human instinct to care for any creature they see in need kicking in.
It was an odd sight apparently, most of the crew stared in confusion at Isaac being the one to need help walking; but then again he usually didn’t delay chargings a whole week.
Claire didn’t hold back a sigh of relief when they reached their quarters, Isaac shifted his weight off of Claire's aching shoulder and reached his hand to unlock the door.
He stumbled to the bedroom, hitting the doorframe as Claire chased behind him.
She glanced at the clock, Isaac stood next to it pulling a boxy cord onto the bed; How was it midnight already?
“Isaac lay down, I know how to plug you in.” She said as he struggled with the cord, little chirps of that untranslated Kaylon speak cutting in and out.
He tilted his head at her, processing, that ‘brain’ ever analyzing before he gave in and crawled onto the bed, lying on his side.
It felt more intimate than most things they'd done, He’d shown her how shortly after they got together the third time; a small port on the back of his head that the cord plugged into.
She gently connected the two pieces and if Isaac had lungs she’d have sworn he would sigh in relief, but hearing the fabric sway as gentle pats were placed on the bed was more interesting than his hypothetical lungs.
A quick walk to the other side of the bed and Claire smiled staring at the lazy hand movements, crawling into the spot he directed.
Cold metallic arms wrapping around her waist did anything but cool her down, But before she could mention anything the blue lights shining in front of her flicked off leaving her to stare at the blank metal face as sleep slowly took her as well.
“6:30.am”
The alarm mocked Claire as she slowly opened her eyes, the boys were more than capable of getting themselves ready but something in her still needed to wake up an hour early and make sure.
The once cold arms around her were now warm, heated by her body and blanket.
It was odd, Claire usually wasn’t awake early enough to feel that; Isaac would leave bed very early, even on nights when he was charging, and wasn’t fake sleeping for Claire's comfort.
Shifting slightly she found that she was stuck, the heavy limbs gripping her tightly, weighing her down.
Slight panic hit her as the Alarm behind her continued to blare.
“Isaac? Honey, It's time to wake up.” She rubbed the arm that gripped her waist.
Blue lights lit up her neck and a head shook against her chest, in a ‘no’ motion.
Claire smiled, she always liked seeing these little moments of Isaac because no matter how many times he calmed he felt nothing, things like a tired protest to sleep longer proved him wrong in her eyes.
“Okay well, let me up at least… unlike you some of us have clothes, hair, and makeup to do.” And boys to check on, but Isaac would just mention how they’re capable humans to dismiss that need.
“I am only charged 58%, It will take four hours and Thirty-five minutes to finish.” Isaac finally spoke up, hands holding slightly tighter.
Silence filled the room, Claire stared confused until realization hit, a smile brought to her face as she cupped his face in her hands; pulling his head up closer to hers.
“And do you want me here with you while you charge?” four a half hours will send them well into 11 am, and she’s not sure how a robot who can’t get sick calls in sick. {Or what her excuse would be as well.}
Isaac didn’t reply, Instead, he pulled Claire a little closer; so close that she could feel the mechanical whirring of his machinery inside.
“If you need me, then can we continue tonight instead?” She asked as she lowered her hands to rub his slick back.
“It would be most efficient to charge in one sitting,” He said. “I cannot work uncharged, the caption knows this information, he will understand.” And with that, Isaac leaned his head into Claire’s neck, the blue lights fading away.
“Isaac?” after a few tugs it was confirmed that this was a death sentence, a Boa constrictor had her in its clutches so she might as well accept her fate.
Well, she would if she could reach her comscanner.
It was conveniently left on the table behind her, along with the blaring Alarm. out of sight and reach.
When she was about to give up hope and no-call no-show three loud knocks on the door relieved her.
“Mom, I hear your alarm, are you awake?” A voice faintly questioned in the distance.
“Come in, your dad’s holding me hostage.” She sighed as Isaac lay motionless.
The door quickly opened and in came running Ty, Marcus nowhere to be seen.
“Hi, mom! Marcus already left but I wanted to say bye.” He cheerfully said as he ran up to her, he stood behind her by the edge of the bed but she couldn’t turn to face him.
pressed her Alarm off {Thank goodness.} and then poked her shoulder.
“Is Isaac okay?” He questioned.
“Ty, honey, Isaac needs to charge and he’s very heavy so I’m stuck here.” She tried her best to crane her neck back to face the child.
At least someone found humor in this, Ty adorning a smile on his face as he looked at Isaac.
Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the Comscanner.
“Could you hand me my comscanner?” Ty quickly nodded to her question and grabbed it from the bedside table. She pulled up the message system on it and then turned to attention back to their kid.
“Okay I love you sweety but you’re going to be late.” She smiled and twisted just enough to pat him on the shoulder.
Ty nodded in agreement and said his goodbyes before running out the door.
Claire turned back to face the ever-sleeping Kaylon, flicking open her comscanner and typing out a message to Kelly, she’d understand.
“I hope we didn’t overwork him.” Ed stared at Isaac’s empty chair from his seat.
“He’s usually in by now.”
“Can you overwork a robot?” Gordon questioned from the front of the room.
Kelly let out a breathy short laugh at her Comscanner.
Hey, so Isaac didn’t get to charge for way longer than he should have, he’s charging now but I’m pinned under him, sorry we can’t make it today.
“Apparently so. Neither of them is going to be in today.”
